In a significant move towards rectifying past injustices, the Pentagon has declared that over 800 veterans, previously discharged under the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy due to their sexual orientation, will now have their discharge statuses upgraded to honorable.
This decision comes in the wake of a yearlong review of 851 cases, with an overwhelming 96.8% of veterans receiving automatic upgrades, thereby circumventing the formal application process.
As reported by Straight Arrow News, this change is not merely symbolic but also practical, reinstating access to crucial benefits such as health care, education, VA loans, and employment opportunities. The DADT policy, a relic of the 1993 Clinton administration, permitted gay and lesbian service members to serve, provided they kept their sexual orientation undisclosed. From 1994 to 2011, approximately 13,500 service members were discharged under this policy. Nearly 2,000 of these individuals received less-than-honorable discharges, thereby restricting their access to veteran benefits. The policy was eventually repealed in 2011 under President Barack Obama's administration.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underscored the significance of the review in redressing the damage inflicted by the DADT policy. He pointed out that 96% of veterans discharged under the policy, who served long enough to receive a merit-based characterization, now possess honorable discharges.
The Pentagon is currently reaching out to the affected veterans, providing them with instructions on how to secure updated discharge documentation. Despite the conclusion of the review, the Pentagon continues to urge veterans discharged under previous policies that prohibited LGBTQ+ individuals from serving, or those who suspect their records contain errors, to seek corrections through military review boards. This move is a testament to the Pentagon's commitment to rectifying past wrongs and ensuring equal treatment for all service members, regardless of their sexual orientation.
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